Systematized apparatus for driving fasteners

ABSTRACT

This construction relates to systematized apparatus for driving fasteners used in assembly of fabricated structures. The system incluces a power-operated portable tool for automatically delivering individual threaded female fasteners for attachment to a cooperating bolt and sequentially rotating the fastener to form a bolted connection. The construction provides a supply of fasteners, a feeding mechanism to deliver individual fasteners to a driving station, and an automatically controlled power tool for drivably rotating the fastener. The construction has particular utility in driving fasteners having external wrenching surfaces of a diametral dimension less than that of the base of the fastener.



1. A portable powered tool for individually delivering and drivably rotating threaded female fasteners, each fastener having an externally presented wrenching surface of non-circular configuration in cross-section, the tool comprising: a. a supporting frame; b. means connecting the tool to a source of power; c. a tool socket having an internal wrenching surface of noncircular configuration in cross-section complementary to said external wrenching surface and being mounted in the frame for rotation about an axis; d. supply means for said female fasteners carried by the frame and adapted to hold a plurality of said fasteners and to deliver same in a selected position of orientation at a discharge station; e. powered transfer means carried by the frame and adapted to receive an individual fastener at said discharge station and to transport said fastener to a driving station; f. drive motor means for drivably rotating said tool socket and any individual fastener held therein; g. first power circuit means selectively actuable to establish communication with said source of power and for powering said transfer motor means to move said transfer means between said discharge and said driving station; and i. second power circuit means operable responsively to movement of said transfer means for powering said drive motor means.
 2. The portable tool of claim 1 wherein said transfer means transports a fastener in a path of travel to said driving station in a radially inwardly direction toward the axis of rotation of said tool socket.
 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein said second power circuit means blocks power to said drive motor means except when said transfer means is in a predetermined position.
 4. The tool of claim wherein said supply means comprises an elongated cylindrical magazine mounted in the frame for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to that of said tool socket and said magazine is provided with a plurality of axially extended chambers arranged in spaced circumferential positions about said axis.
 5. A powered hand tool for delivering and rotatably driving individual female threaded fasteners, each fastener having an external wrenching surface of non-circular configuration cross-section, the tool comprising: a. a frame, including grip means; b. drive motor means carried in the frame and adapted for rotation about an axis; c. a tool socket affording an internal wrenching surface of a configuration complementary to said external surface; d. transmission means connecting said tool socket with said motor means; e. an elongated cylindrical supply magazine mounted in the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis and having a plurality of axially extending chambers parallel to said axis and circumferentially spaced therearound, each of said chambers being adapted to receive a plurality of female fasteners and to deliver same individually at a discharge station adjacent one end of the magazine; f. a transport yoke adapted to releasably hold an individual fastener; g. mounting means for said yoke supporting the yoke for movement between said discharge station and a driving station; h. powered operating means for movement of said yoke between said stations; i. a source of power; j. means connecting the tool and the source of power; k. first power control means selectively actuable to operate said yoke operating means and move the yoke from the discharge station to the driving station; and l. second power control means responsive to movement of said transport yoke to said driving station and effective to connect said drive Motor with the source of power.
 6. The hand tool of claim 5 wherein said transmission means for said tool socket includes powered reciprocable mounting means for the socket, permitting movement along the axis of rotation and wherein said second power control means is effective to extend the socket along said axis while being rotated by said drive motor.
 7. The hand tool of claim 5 wherein said yoke mounting means permits transport of an individual fastener in a path of travel angularly related to the axis of rotation of said socket.
 8. The hand tool of claim 7 wherein said path of travel is substantially radially oriented relative to said axis of rotation.
 9. Systematized Apparatus for delivery of individual threaded fasteners to a driving station at an assembly site and rotatably driving the same, the apparatus comprising a supporting frame; supply means connected to the frame and providing an inventory of threaded fasteners available at a position in close proximity to the driving station, including a discharge station and means to present individual fasteners thereat; Powered transfer means carried on the frame to transport an individual fastener from the discharge station to the driving station; Powered driving mechanism secured to the frame and adapted for axial advancement of said individual fastener from the driving station onto a receiving complementary fastener and for concurrent rotation of one of the fasteners to effect a threaded connection therebetween; and Coordinated power control means for said transfer means and driving mechanism to effect sequential operation of the transfer means to effect movement of a fastener from the discharge station to the driving station prior to actuation of the driving mechanism.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the supply means comprises an elongated magazine providing an internal chamber to accommodate the diametral dimension of the threaded fasteners, and wherein fluid pressure is applied to one end of the magazine remote from the delivery station thereby to advance the fasteners toward said station.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the supply means is mounted for rotation on the frame and comprises an elongated magazine having a plurality of internal fasteners receiving chambers circumferentially spaced about the axis of rotation, including means for individually selectively connecting one of said chambers with the fluid under pressure thereby to move the fasteners in said selected chamber toward the delivery station.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fasteners are temporarily mounted on elongated headed spindles adapted for slidable reception of a plurality of female fasteners and for insertion into one of said chambers, wherein the spindle head substantially seals one end of said chamber opposite from the delivery station.
 13. For use in systematized apparatus for delivery of individual, internally threaded fasteners combined with a shipping, loading and delivery carrier comprising: a. an elongated spindle having a shaft adapted for axial insertion through a plurality of such fasteners; b. an enlarged head secured to the shaft at one end to limit axial movement of the fasteners along the shaft toward said one end; and c. an entry tip secured to the shaft at the end opposite the head to limit axial movement of said fasteners toward said opposite end.
 14. The combined shipping, loading, and delivery carrier of claim 13 wherein said entry tip is tapered at its outer end and is detachably secured to said shaft. 